Alcohol may have been a factor in Cannington crash: OPP

After two people were taken to hospital following a serious crash in Cannington Tuesday (Aug. 15), police now say alcohol may have been a factor.

“The OPP are investigating the possibility that alcohol was a factor in collision (on Highway 12 in Cannington),” tweeted Sergeant Kerry Schmidt of the OPP on Thursday (Aug. 17).

The following pictures were included in his tweet:

He also noted updates would follow.

Police had closed Highway 12 at Concession Road 10 in Cannington after a collision they say involved three vehicles.

“Looks like there was a pickup truck travelling southbound. For some unknown reason (it) was all over the highway and actually went into oncoming lanes. (It) was going to go head-on into a gravel hauler. The driver of that gravel hauler did a great job trying to avoid a collision and actually went opposite to the oncoming lanes to avoid going head-on with this pickup,” said Sgt. Schmidt.

“The pickup still struck the rear corner of the gravel hauler’s trailer which sent it out of control and then into a third vehicle.”

According to Sgt. Schmidt, the driver of the pickup has been airlifted to hospital while the driver of the third vehicle was taken to hospital “with relatively minor injuries.”

The driver of the gravel hauler remains on scene, said Sgt. Schmidt.

Police had previously reported that the collision had resulted in northbound and southbound lanes between Concession Road 12 and Concession Road 7 in Cannington being closed to traffic. As of 6:20 a.m., southbound traffic was reportedly getting through using the shoulder.